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Postgraduate

The Centre's postgraduate programme comes under the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Graduate Programme. Bioethics students are enrolled into the Graduate Programme, and will be expected to fulfill the School's requirements to graduate either with an MSc or PhD degree. There is no direct admission to the PhD programme or specialisation of the degrees awarded.

We encourage research in areas related to the research themes of the Centre and the research interests of its staff. You can find further details about the Centre and our work on this website.

Features

MSc Programme

PhD Programme

Duration

3 years

5 years

Part time or Full time

Both

Both

Thesis

40,000 words

80,000 words

Coursework

3 core + 2 elective modules

3 core + 3 elective modules

Application deadline

No deadline to submit proposed project outline to us for consideration by the Centre’s Admissions Committee (see below) but the School has two deadlines annually – 15 Nov (Semester 1 intake for the following August) and 15 May (Semester 2 intake for the following January).

Qualifications

At least a good Honours degree in a relevant subject, e.g. philosophy/ethics, law, social science, theology or healthcare. Proficiency in English is essential.

Programme Details

Students are required to take 3 core modules:

MDG5771 Graduate Research Seminar

MDG5215 Applied Bioethics and Biolaw, and

MDG5230 Topics in Bioethics Research Methods

For the elective modules, students may choose from those offered by the Centre, the School, Department of Biological Sciences or Research Institutes affiliated with NUS.

PhD candidates will only be upgraded from Masters level upon completion of 4 modules, and after passing a Qualifying Examination. These requirements should be completed in the first 2 years of enrollment. Then PhD candidates will need to complete the remaining two elective modules.

The modules offered by Centre are listed below.

Admission

Submit a brief outline of your proposed project and your full CV to the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr Voo Teck Chuan.

The Centre’s Admissions Committee will consider your proposed project and qualifications, and endeavour to make a decision before the School’s next application deadline.

If the Centre’s Admissions Committee approves your application, you will be invited to make a full application for admission to the School online.

This module provides the tools necessary for students to develop and reflect critically upon contemporary issues in bioethics, medicine and the biosciences. Students will be introduced to aspects of biolaw. The module aims to develop skills of critical thinking and ethical analysis; to explore the impact of developments in medicine and the biosciences; and to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue between science and humanities.

MDG5216 Bioethics in Asia

Students will be encouraged to develop critical reflection on ethical concepts from a perspective of cultural differences and universal moral values. They will be expected to cultivate moral sensitivity and develop skills, for example, is inter-disciplinary dialogue. They will then be in a position to respond to potential cultural tensions created in the clinical and community-wide settings.

This page is subject to change. Please contact the Director of Graduate Studies for further information.

MDG5230 Topics in Bioethics Research Methods

This is a practical module that will provide students with the methodological tools necessary to analyse and reflect critically upon contemporary issues in bioethics, medicine and the biosciences. Students will be taught about various research methods that are commonly applied in bioethics and learn how to apply them to theoretical frameworks.

MDG5231 Topics in Biomedical and Behavioural Research Ethics

This module will expose students to the history and theoretical foundations of ethics in biomedical and behavioural research as well as examination of major ethical issues arising in the conduct of such research.

Topics covered include history of research ethics, theories and concepts in research ethics review, ethical issues relating to various research methodologies, and ethical issues arising in various types of biomedical and behavioural research.

PhD and MSc candidates may undertake independent study of a topic in bioethics under the supervision of a Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE) faculty. They can formulate a topic of interest in advance and approach their prospective supervisor (with relevant research interests) to discuss and write a proposal for the Independent Study Module (ISM). They are advised to start working on the project several weeks before the start of the semester so that they can have sufficient time for any project revision if necessary. Students and supervisors are required to submit the CBmE ISM Contract agreeing to a plan of work and assessment. Students may check with CBmE to check for the list of ISM projects and prerequisites. ISM Project, ISM Contract & Appendix A